Describe a need that you have observed in one or moe of your high ability students. What evidence do you have that this need exists? What actions are you considering to address this need?
I feel like it is important to distinguish the difference between a want and a need for this discussion. A want is something that they could certainly use but could live without it yet still succeed in the classroom and a need is something they must have to be able to succeed in the classroom. When applying this to the high ability students, I feel that their wants exceed their needs. They want to ask questions, they want to take notes, they want to learn. What they need are challenges. As a teacher, I will try to get them to think for the answers. I will layout some basic examples where the answer is right in front of them to cover the fundamentals of the topic. I will then increase the difficulty and make them think abstractly and have them look at problems from different angles.
Describe a need that you have observed in one or moe of your low ability students. What evidence do you have that this need exists? What actions are you considering to address this need?
The low ability students have a lot of wants and needs as well. But their needs most certainly outweigh their wants. They want to not have to do chemistry, they want to go back to sleep. Their needs can range depending on the students. I find that for most students, they need scaffolding and structure. The best way to conduct a class with them is to take it one step at a time and try to make it fun and interesting. The trash can basketball game is a gold mine! It works out like this: I give them homework, they don't want to do it, they come in the next day and I tell them we are playing trash can basketball, they all frantically start filling in answers. I would like for them to do the homework before they come into class that day. I'm not sure if telling them in advance that a particular homework set will be used for trash can basketball will motivate them to do the homework, or motivate them to look up the answers on google. But as far as getting them interested and wanting to participate is concerned, it is like my ace in the hole.
Describe a need that you have observed in one or more of your medium ability students. What evidence do you have that this need exists? What actions are you considering to address this need?
The medium ability students seem to need a mix of social settings, and ability levels. With respect to the social classroom setting, if a teacher is too hard on them, they will not have fun and not feel motivated. If the teacher is too soft on them, he will never gain their respect or be able to maintain classroom management. Academically, a teacher can not give them assignments or tasks that are too easy because then the students will never learn anything. They need to have some challenges. If every student is getting everything right, that would be pretty cool, but it probably means that the questions and/or tasks are just too easy. If they are never challenged then they will never learn. The middle ability students are the ones that will make teaching a pleasant experience for me because I will need to find happy mediums throughout all aspects of the class. The middle students can challenge me to be my best, as I will do for them.
Addressing Student Needs
Describe a need that you have observed in one or moe of your high ability students. What evidence do you have that this need exists? What actions are you considering to address this need?
I feel like it is important to distinguish the difference between a want and a need for this discussion. A want is something that they could certainly use but could live without it yet still succeed in the classroom and a need is something they must have to be able to succeed in the classroom. When applying this to the high ability students, I feel that their wants exceed their needs. They want to ask questions, they want to take notes, they want to learn. What they need are challenges. As a teacher, I will try to get them to think for the answers. I will layout some basic examples where the answer is right in front of them to cover the fundamentals of the topic. I will then increase the difficulty and make them think abstractly and have them look at problems from different angles.Describe a need that you have observed in one or moe of your low ability students. What evidence do you have that this need exists? What actions are you considering to address this need?
The low ability students have a lot of wants and needs as well. But their needs most certainly outweigh their wants. They want to not have to do chemistry, they want to go back to sleep. Their needs can range depending on the students. I find that for most students, they need scaffolding and structure. The best way to conduct a class with them is to take it one step at a time and try to make it fun and interesting. The trash can basketball game is a gold mine! It works out like this: I give them homework, they don't want to do it, they come in the next day and I tell them we are playing trash can basketball, they all frantically start filling in answers. I would like for them to do the homework before they come into class that day. I'm not sure if telling them in advance that a particular homework set will be used for trash can basketball will motivate them to do the homework, or motivate them to look up the answers on google. But as far as getting them interested and wanting to participate is concerned, it is like my ace in the hole.Describe a need that you have observed in one or more of your medium ability students. What evidence do you have that this need exists? What actions are you considering to address this need?
The medium ability students seem to need a mix of social settings, and ability levels. With respect to the social classroom setting, if a teacher is too hard on them, they will not have fun and not feel motivated. If the teacher is too soft on them, he will never gain their respect or be able to maintain classroom management. Academically, a teacher can not give them assignments or tasks that are too easy because then the students will never learn anything. They need to have some challenges. If every student is getting everything right, that would be pretty cool, but it probably means that the questions and/or tasks are just too easy. If they are never challenged then they will never learn. The middle ability students are the ones that will make teaching a pleasant experience for me because I will need to find happy mediums throughout all aspects of the class. The middle students can challenge me to be my best, as I will do for them.